I have been looking through the threads and have not seen this issue yet. I have recently p/u a 2008 used (regretting it already) vf 170. i have installed it myself according to manual. Once i set it up and fired it up everything looked great, good flame, good air, exhaust etc. i have it set on auto/off as it is hooked up to a thermostat. once the thermostat reaches temperature the Convection Fan turns off and the auger and flame continue in the unit and does not stop unless I manually shut it off. The unit in the manual mode when shut off continues to operate the Convection Fan until the unit is cool. When i restart the unit it fires up right away and Convection Fan kicks in properly.
enviro maxx vf 170 convection fan issue
- Thread starter Samnlola
- Start date
-
Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment.
We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues.
We promote the EFFICIENT, RESPONSIBLE, CLEAN and SAFE use of all fuels, whether renewable or fossil. -
Super Cedar firestarters 30% discount Use code Hearth2024 Click here
- Status
Some controllers go through a period of burning on low until a certain period of time has past without a call for heat.
I suspect that may be what may be going on, but I haven't looked at your manual lately.
I don't know why the convection fan turns off however, it should continue until the stove actually finishes shut down.
I suspect that may be what may be going on, but I haven't looked at your manual lately.
I don't know why the convection fan turns off however, it should continue until the stove actually finishes shut down.
Reading another thread on here and the convection fan may not operate on level #1 which is the low burn on hi/low or during the low burn on a controller with a so called smart-stat mode for on/off t-stat operation.
In manual everything runs great. Convection fan runs when core temp is reached and when I shut it off, it continues until cool.
Unit is set on level #4 and produces considerable heat. I am still playing with it and no success. I have noticed that my control board is slightly different than the manual but cannot find a manual with the same control board. The make and model of the maxx is a match to the manual. Enviro Maxx vf-170. i also have a vf-170b manual and it is identical.
Unit is set on level #4 and produces considerable heat. I am still playing with it and no success. I have noticed that my control board is slightly different than the manual but cannot find a manual with the same control board. The make and model of the maxx is a match to the manual. Enviro Maxx vf-170. i also have a vf-170b manual and it is identical.
I may get around to reading the manuals.
There is a difference in the way a stove operates when it changes modes. A lot of stoves pass through maintain fire mode before they shut down it depends upon the controller and the program code running on the controller in the stove.
Somewhere on line you should be able to find a rather large technical manual for the enviro line that has a number of controllers discussed in it.
They keep changing them.
ETA: One other thing people have been known to play with their units and that includes different controllers getting installed in them.
There is a difference in the way a stove operates when it changes modes. A lot of stoves pass through maintain fire mode before they shut down it depends upon the controller and the program code running on the controller in the stove.
Somewhere on line you should be able to find a rather large technical manual for the enviro line that has a number of controllers discussed in it.
They keep changing them.
ETA: One other thing people have been known to play with their units and that includes different controllers getting installed in them.
I appreciate all of the help. i have a funny feeling it will be the control board. couldn't find anything different online than the tech install manual and the owner's manual, both of which i have.
Actually the stove has such a large convection blower the controller is programmed to turn the convection blower completely off at low fire(once stat has reached temp). Voltage to the fan goes to zero volts. Perfectly normal. The convection tubes are very large on these units and will radiate plenty of heat without adding convection air. Plus the blower is so large even running it at the minimum voltage it could run at would force enough air thru on low that the air would be almost cold.
See the chart I posted It has 0 as the voltage supplied to the convection blower on low.
Nothing wrong with your unit. It has a 30 minute delay before it will shutdown. This is built in to help save the igniter if the unit short cycles a lot. It will idle on low just in case the stat calls for heat within the 30 minute window. If it hasn't called for heat it will shut down for you. During the cold it could save the igniter as often the house will cool and need heat again. So instead of going through the start all over, It will just return to the setting you have on the controller.
I actually recommend Hi/Lo during the cold season(at least at night) to also help save the igniter.
Hope this helps!
See the chart I posted It has 0 as the voltage supplied to the convection blower on low.
Nothing wrong with your unit. It has a 30 minute delay before it will shutdown. This is built in to help save the igniter if the unit short cycles a lot. It will idle on low just in case the stat calls for heat within the 30 minute window. If it hasn't called for heat it will shut down for you. During the cold it could save the igniter as often the house will cool and need heat again. So instead of going through the start all over, It will just return to the setting you have on the controller.
I actually recommend Hi/Lo during the cold season(at least at night) to also help save the igniter.
Hope this helps!
Attachments
![[Hearth.com] enviro maxx vf 170 convection fan issue](/talk/data/attachments/83/83274-eb7322ca3393d78f01984c0807d2dcd1.jpg?hash=kx_YbwuTzd)
jtakeman that would make sense as I did not wait for 30 min before shutting the unit off manually! I appreciate the great info! hoping to heat my house with the Maxx this year. my confusion was with the Quadra Contour I had always ran the fan to cool the unit down but hearing your take on this makes sense.
When you switched to manual and turned it off. Did the fan come back on?
Couple other tips to keep in your pocket.
1.) Don't hit the on/off button with the stove in auto/off or hi/lo. It will restart the start up cycle and flood the stove with pellets. Big fire in the pot thats a bit scary. Make sure to always go to the manual setting and turn it off that way.
2.) If you want it to cycle back on with the stat. Wait 10 seconds after turning it off and then slide the mode switch back to auto/off mode.
3.) If you are using a stat. The stove will not turn back on if you are in hi/lo or manual mode....... It will only cycle in Auto/off with the stat. If you want to use hi/lo turn the stove on first and then switch it to hi/lo mode. Wait 10 seconds after turning it on to change the selector switch.
Couple other tips to keep in your pocket.
1.) Don't hit the on/off button with the stove in auto/off or hi/lo. It will restart the start up cycle and flood the stove with pellets. Big fire in the pot thats a bit scary. Make sure to always go to the manual setting and turn it off that way.
2.) If you want it to cycle back on with the stat. Wait 10 seconds after turning it off and then slide the mode switch back to auto/off mode.
3.) If you are using a stat. The stove will not turn back on if you are in hi/lo or manual mode....... It will only cycle in Auto/off with the stat. If you want to use hi/lo turn the stove on first and then switch it to hi/lo mode. Wait 10 seconds after turning it on to change the selector switch.
yes, when i shut the unit off the convection fan kicks in immediately and starts the cool down cycle.
these tips are great as i have done pretty much everything wrong with the start up.
these tips are great as i have done pretty much everything wrong with the start up.
Ugh, once again i'm late to the party...
I own a Maxx unit, I believe it's the same control board as the VF170. I'd like to add my two cents to this thread, but Jay already beat me to everything I was going to say!
I own a Maxx unit, I believe it's the same control board as the VF170. I'd like to add my two cents to this thread, but Jay already beat me to everything I was going to say!
- Status
Similar threads
